Roulette Films

Well, I survived. I'm not sure if the drinks imbibed or the film I watched caused me more psychological damage, but that's really all you need to know about this experience. So, watch as I review Rebel Moon live while watching it, and also play a game where I need to take a drink whenever some very frequent, very painful thing occurs in the movie. Zack Snyder's still got it, it seems (this is not...

On Thursday I went to see Joker 2, which turned out to be the most unfortunate 2 hours and change of my week. There are a litany of reasons for this that could never fit in this description, but I spend some time talking about a few of the most egregious offenses Joker 2 commits as a film over the course of this review. Whether it's engaging in compelling themes, having intrigue in its central plo...

This past weekend I went to check out the sequel to the classic film Beetlejuice in theaters, and really liked it. To put it simply, I just really enjoyed the vibe that the cast and the crew and everyone who worked on this project curated and delivered to the screen. Everything from costuming to song selection to line delivery matched in its energy and came together to give a simple, good time. I...

In this review, I discuss the abject disappointment that was the Borderlands film. Taking a zany video game and turning into a blob of bland nothingness is no small feat, but it was achieved nonetheless. Really there are almost no saving graces in this film, and not much of anything can even be considered passable. There are a litany of reasons for the films numerous shortcomings, but one stands o...

In this review, I discuss the most recent seasons of The Bear and The Boys. Both of these shows are series I had enjoyed thoroughly in the past. Yet, both somehow have not reached the same heights that I know they are capable of. I attempt to diagnose and describe this problem, and maybe create some new vocabulary in the process. So, sit back, relax, and listen to me rant about Treadmill Seasons,...

In this review, I discuss the follow up to Matt Reeves's Planet of the Apes trilogy, where a new character in a new era is the focus. I talk about how the legacy of the recent trilogy, as well as the legacy of the franchise in general, weighs on Kingdom. I talk about how Kingdom smartly manages to lift this weight and carry it with grace, succeeding where many other franchises burdened by the...

In this review, I talk about how two shows I've recently watched use the perspectives they give us to enhance the messages of their narratives. Shogun constantly pushes the limits of our allegiances and loyalties with its major characters, and Blue Eye Samurai brings us headlong down the path of vengeance beside Mizu. Each of these are only possible through the specific angle these stories pre...

In this episode I talk about Invincible Season Two, which recently had its finale air. Specifically, I talk about some departures it has from its source material, and how I think those departures work to elevate the narrative rather than take away from it. I know adaptations straying from their original works is a hotly contested topic, but I believe the changes I discuss in this episode can be un...

Dune Part Two was phenomenal. In this video I talk about how I think it did that. It kept us tethered to this massive, sweeping story by making sure to spend time with its characters in their smaller moments, so that we would really feel *with* them in the big ones. Watch this review along with beautiful clips from the film on my YouTube here . And find all my other links here .

In this episode I graduate from talking about a pilot episode to discussing an entire season of a television show. Percy Jackson was a show I went into with high hopes, coming back each week in the hopes of something that was better than or improved upon what we got in the previous episode, but it never came. I highlight issues endemic to the series, and bring up specific examples to highlight why...

I finally sat down to watch my first season of True Detective...the fourth season of True Detective. I discuss what captivated me so much and how the aura around this show only enhances those feelings of desire to solve the puzzle and unravel the threads that the pilot presents to us. Excellent storytelling allows for a first episode that really hooked me. Watch this review, along with accompanyin...

Another year, another tier list. With a lot more movies watched this year for the first time, I'm doing things a little quicker and a little differently. Most of these should line up pretty closely with my initial loggings on Letterboxd here, but of course my opinions can change over time. Overall it was a great year for new experiences for me, both in the realm of film and television and outs...

Discussing why, despite being a prequel with little-to-no stakes for the Hunger Games world at large, Songbirds and Snakes is still able to work so well. I discuss how its success comes from its conviction, the meaningful ways it ties into the original trilogy, and how it makes you connect with its characters. Watch this review with relevant scenes and clips from the movie on my YouTube channel he...

Attack on Titan finally concluded last week, and the finale was, for the most part, great. So many long-standing story arcs came to a close, and the ensemble of iconic characters got their final moments to shine. I enjoyed it immensely as a whole, but it felt like something was missing. I discuss what that something is, and how the central theme of Attack on Titan may not be as grim as the finale...

This weekend I finally caught Werewolf By Night, the directorial debut of Michael Giacchino that I had been meaning to get around to for quite some time. I was about as big a fan of this as I am of listening to his beautifully composed soundtracks while I am trying to be productive. I definitely recommend checking this one out, but also would love to hear your thoughts on this Marvel Studios Speci...

On Thursday I watched No One Will Save You....and I really liked it. But, I was left wanting, feeling like I should have liked it more. While No One Will Save You hits every note seemingly just right, the fact that it exists on a streaming platform and is missing the spectacle it so rightly deserves and would thrive in holds it back. The highest highs of streaming seem to pale in comparison to the...

This weekend I saw Haunting in Venice, the third Christie tale adapted by Kenneth Branagh. I loved pretty much every last bit of it, as it was a movie nearly perfectly designed for my tastes. I love whodunits, Halloween, and most everything in the film. Listen to me gush over what I found the most impressive in this gorgeous movie. Watch this with accompanying clips from the film, behind the scene...

Saw Talk To Me this Monday on a whim, and it was one of the more intense theater experiences I've had in recent memory. The film was scary, it was captivating, it was all-together well done. I was hooked from the first scene and it never let up. Check it out if you get a chance, and if you have seen it, let me know what you thought. Watch this review on YouTube with accompanying clips from the...

I had the great experience of seeing Barbie on opening night with some friends. In this review, I talk about what made this movie about a girl's doll so captivating. Not only was it hilarious, entertaining, and clever, but it had something to say. It had a message for and about women, along with themes and ideas that everyone could connect to and resonate with. Watch this review in video form...

Coming in as a sequel to one of my favorite movies of all time, Dead Reckoning had a big burden to bear and high expectations to live up to. While I'm still not sure if it surpasses the distilled excellence that is Fallout, Dead Reckoning has a lot to love about it, and it all stems from the passion, dedication, and craftsmanship of its cast and crew who brought this classic blockbuster to lif...

I was lucky enough to catch an early screening of Asteroid City thanks to a very cool offer given by Letterboxd and Focus Features. I really enjoyed the experience as well as the film itself. In this review, I talk about Wes Anderson, his filmography as a whole, and of course Asteroid City. There are many contrasting elements that make it work for me, and this I believe is a quintissential part of...

On Thursday I had the pleasure of seeing Across The Spider-Verse. Though I went in with high expectations, the film met and exceeded every single one of them. My only complaint was that this supremely entertaining work of art didn't allow me to enjoy it any longer. In this review I discuss a lot of what I found to be so exceptional about the film, from its central conflict and plot to the emot...

This weekend I was lucky enough to find some time to watch Guardians 3. Since Endgame, this has been my most anticipated release and it certainly didn't disappoint. In this review, I talk about the heart and genuine emotion James Gunn manages to fit into his stories for his massive casts of characters, and what, to me, makes the Guardians of the Galaxy stand out from the rest of the recent Mar...

This weekend, I watched Ghosted with my girlfriend. The film got off to a rocky start, made palatable only by a ridiculous theory she had shared with me that Armas and Evans actually did not film this movie together. The only thing more absurd than this theory was the fact that it was genuinely believable for about 6 minutes of runtime. I discuss the assorted shortcomings of the movie, from my poi...

This weekend I was fortunate enough to catch the limited release of Malum, a higher budget and more polished version of the 2010s horror film Last Shift from the same creator. While it was very well executed and obviously took advantage of its increased budget, it fell short in several areas and for the most part let me down. I went in expecting a top of the line horror experience, and got somethi...